Man who appeared to do Nazi salute becomes adviser to Reform's Welsh leader

A former Senedd election candidate who appeared to perform a Nazi salute in a photo has been taken on as an adviser to Reform UK's Welsh leader.

Corey Edwards quit as a Reform candidate in the lead-up to the election after the photograph was published by the Nation.Cymru news website.

But just weeks on from the election in which Reform became the Senedd's second-biggest party, Edwards has now appeared an internal system at the Welsh Parliament listed as a special adviser to his party's leader Dan Thomas.

Plaid Cymru and Labour have criticised the appointment, while Reform said it does not comment on its staff.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had given qualified support to Edwards at the time of the original story, standing by the then-candidate but saying it looked terrible and "wouldn't approve of it".

He said at the time he would not be kicked out of the party.

It was not clear where or when the image, which showed Edwards holding his right arm in the air and a finger to his nose, was obtained, although Reform said it was taken in 2019.

Farage said Edwards had been impersonating Basil Fawlty, although a statement from Edwards at the time suggested he had also been impersonating Welsh footballer Wayne Hennessey.

In late March a Reform spokesman said Edwards had informed the party he was stepping down as a candidate for the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg seat, "citing issues with his mental health".

Screenshots of an internal Senedd system seen by BBC Wales now show Edwards listed as a special adviser to party leader Thomas.

According to his profile on LinkedIn, Edwards began his political career as a senior parliamentary assistant in the House of Commons from October 2019, before later working for former Conservative MP and UK government minister David TC Davies.

Plaid said the appointment "will raise eyebrows", while Labour added: "This is yet another instance where you really do have to question the judgement of those running Reform UK."

Reform said in response: "The Labour prime minister appointed Peter Mandelson, known close friend of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, to our most senior diplomatic role [of US ambassador]. They are in no position to lecture others about judgement."